As we enter cold & flu season, here is some great information on how to take care of your little one when they are ill

Fever/Acute Illness information

If you child has a fever and any of all of the following

• Runny nose or Nasal congestion
• Cough
• Decreased appetite but generally drinking adequate amounts of fluids (enough fluid to make urine at least 2-3 times a day)
• Lacy rash over chest, back or extremities that seems mostly asymptomatic (not itchy, no weeping areas/blisters)
• Red eye(s) with discharge and “crusty” lashes, especially after sleeping, that can be removed with a warm wash cloth
• Increased fatigue, wanting to sleep and nap more

Then this is reassuring, all symptoms above are consistent with an acute viral illness which you and your child will get many times throughout life. 

Fever is defined as a temperature above 100.4F and is a normal and important reaction to a viral illness, in fact, it is one of the body’s best defenses against acute illness and viral infection which is why we do not want to suppress it automatically with medicine.

• The degree of the temperature is not as important as how you child is acting on the whole.
  • Fever that does not affect the child’s ability to drink fluids, be somewhat interactive/playful, or sleep COULD be left alone without medicine up to 103.5F
• UNLESS the child has a history of febrile seizures (pretty rare) then medication should be given consistently to control fever spikes.

When giving medicine for a fever you want to give the most effective dose of medicine for their current weight as underdosage will give the impression of a fever that “isn’t responding to medicine” which is usually pretty rare. (Dosing below for reference).

• Fever with a viral illness typically lasts about 3-5 days (as little as 3 in some cases and as long as 7 in some cases).
  • The peak of the fever is always at the half way point (around 48-72 hours).

Cough with a viral illness can last up to THREE weeks (ugh!)

• Typically after the first week it will very slowly get better each day or two.
  • Additionally the cough is sometime the last manifestation of the virus after the fever has resolved.

Congestion is another typically long lasting symptom and in young kids in daycare it can seem like congestion never ends!

Please let us know if you have any other concerns or questions.

Most kids do great with acute illnesses on their own but we are always happy to discuss what symptoms you are concerned about to make sure they are still within what is expected for the illness and recovery.

For more information, including dosing for Tylenol and Motrin, please visit our Fever page https://u.osu.edu/medpeds/fevers/